Jan. 20, Conversation on Ecological Leadership with Tim DeChristopher in San Mateo

January 20, The Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo (UUSM) extend an open invitation to the general public to join in conversation with climate activist, Tim DeChistopher. DeChristopher will speak at UUSM’s Beck Hall, 300 E. Santa Inez Ave, San Mateo at 7 p.m., 650-342-5946 Suggested donation: $5.

Tim DeChristopher, the subject of the awarding winning documentary, Bidder 70, is cofounder of the environmental groups Peaceful Uprising and Climate Disobedience Center.

In December 2008, DeChristopher registered his objections to a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction of 116 parcels of public land in Utah’s redrock country by successfully bidding on fourteen parcels of land (22,500 acres) for $1.8 million with no intent to pay. DeChristopher was removed from the auction by federal agents. He was taken into custody and eventually served twenty-one months in prison.

The public land was being autioned at low rates for the benefit of oil and gas interests in the last days of the Bush administration. Prior to the auction environmental leaders - including actor Robert Redford - worked to draw attention to the bidding and to the proximity of the parcels to natural treasures like Canyonlands National Park. Activistists attempted to halt the auction pending further review and public comment. They brought suit, but were unable to settle the issue. On December 19th, DeChristopher joined with others to protest. He entered the building where the auction was held. When asked if he was there to bid, he said he was and registered as Bidder 70. He participated in the auction with the intent to cripple it and he succeeded.

Tim DeChristopher’s interest in the writers and philosophies that shaped social movements in the United States and around the world informs his approach to climate justice. His perspective on the American environmental movement underscores the critical role that civil disobedience has played in social movements throughout history, including civil rights and women’s suffrage.

“Civil disobedience is an act of love.” DeChristopher

Ultimately De Christopher may be remembered by history as his generation’s Ghandi or Martin Luther King, Jr. He is already lauded by the press as the Rosa Parks of climate justice though he likens his approach more to that of Alice Paul who escalated the women’s rights movement. Paul forced the government to publicly arrest women protesting on the steps of the capitol, thereby winning visibility for an otherwise obscure social movement.

Join “Conversation in Ecological Leadership, “ January 20, 7 p.m. Beck Hall, Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, 300 E. Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo, 650-342-5946, $5 suggested donation.

Sources: Peaceful Uprising, Tim DeChristopher’s Website, Bidder 70, Climate Disobedience Center, Wikipedia

DeChristopher photo: 2011, cheasapeakeclimate under CC BY SA 2.0 license